The day book. (Chicago, Ill.) 1911-1917, March 14, 1917, LAST EDITION, Image 18

Image and text provided by University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library, Urbana, IL

ft.MRS. PICKETT'S CHAPERONEBy George HaskellIt was getting to be a joke in theirset that Mrs. Pickett, the gay widow;kept her young niece for a chaperone. True, Helen Bryan, who hadcome to live with her aunt, was morequiet in manner and less given togorgeous apparel, but it was not inthe least her intention to keep an eyeon her relative, whom she believedentirely capable of taking care ofherself and whose brilliant conversation and witty repartee was asmuch a deljght to her as to any ofMrs. Pickett's admirers.Helen's conversational gift took aslightly different trend. She had alsoa ready wit, but she had, too, sentiment and imagination. Her poemswere beginning to find their way intothe best magazines and she oftenfound reading and study more alluring than bridge parties or teas. Sosometimes when they asked Mrs.Pickett where her chaperone wasshe would laugh and say she was being shockingly neglected and whocould tell where such carelessnesswould end. People who only metHelen in company with her aunt never really knew the girl, for Mrs. Pickett was the dominant individual whotook the conversational field andkept it. Not that she meant to dothis, but she was simply bubblingwith wit and good humor and had toeffervesce. Naturally Helen did not,under these circumstances, shine.About six months after Helencame to live with her aunt WadeBarber came out of the west withhis pictures. He had some letters ofintroduction to "good people," andthese, together with a prepossessingrnpearance and a well-bred manner,; r'ablished him in social circles,.tie . i an exhibition of his pictures, hich were really good, andsold son e.. Mrs. Pickett invited himto call, i ad very soon he was paying ,assiduous attention to the wittywidow."She must be all of 15 years olderthan he is," said Mrs. Catt. "Why,he doesn't look a day over 25.""My dear," put in Mrs. SpanieL"He must be near 30; and Eethl Pickett can't be a day over 40. Besides,men of brains, poets and artists never think about age; it's the mind andsoul that appeals to them.""Any way," purred the' other, "noone these days makes any accountHe Recognized Her and Waited 'of the woman being older than theman. I suppose, too, it would be apretty good thing for Wade Barber.He's as ,poor as a church mouse, Ihear; and Mrs. Pickett has plenty ofmoney.""He was speaking of Helen Bryant the other day to Miss Flint andI heard her tell him the" niece was a'Door relation'."